The MIDNIGHT SERENADERS debut recording, "Magnolia" has arrived. The CD is now available at CD Baby. We'd love for you to purchase one. Read the review from CD Baby:
"Bringing together Portland natives as well as transplants from Colorado to the deep south, the Rose City’s newest 20s and 30s jazz getup is already tickling ears and funny bones with the release of their debut album, Magnolia. To see them live, in character, is a delightful treat but lucky for us, all of the personality shines through in this recording. From Dee Settlemier’s spunky, sometimes growling vocals, appropriate for a uke strumming, flapper dressed front-woman, to the signature, perky Hawaiian steel guitar punctuation courtesy of Henry Bogdan, to Doug Sammons' top hat and gentlemanly vocals, this combo not only brings the charm of vintage jazz and swing but the spirit, the background and all of the wonderful connotations and quirks to boot. Well suited to their name, the Midnight Serenaders specialize in happy music for hard times: appropriate for the 20s and 30s as much as it is relevant today."
You can also purchase our CD digitally through iTunes. Click here:
.. The Midnight Serenaders perform an infectious blend of old-time jazz and early swing, offering up a sweet collection of songs and tunes from the early 20th century. Fronted by guitar slinger/crooner Doug Sammons and ukulele-plinking chanteuse Dee Settlemier, this Portland, Oregon-based sextet energizes audiences, and transports them on a melodic, swing-crazy journey to the dance-happy era known as “the Jazz Age,†where a catchy melody was queen and rhythm ruled the land.
The Midnight Serenaders draw their repertoire from the rich heritage of early Americana: from out of the Harlem Renaissance they bring “A Porter’s Love Song To A Chambermaid,†written by James P. Johnson and Andy Razaf, and Clarence Williams’ very saucy “You Got To Give Me Some.†In addition they do passionate renditions of Bessie Smith’s “Squeeze Me†and Ethel Waters’ “My Handyman.†The Serenaders unearth and reinterpret many long forgotten songs from the 1920s and ’30s with inimitable panache. Mr. Sammons’ buttery baritone crooning on Johnny Marvin’s “Magnolia†will make any modern flapper swoon, and Miss Settlemier’s down-around-the-ankles contralto on such numbers as Annette Hanshaw’s “Six Feet of Papa†is sweeter than the crease on a southern peach. This versatile ensemble also features Hawaiian instrumentals, like Andy Iona’s dreamy “Sand,†and even songs from old-time country legend Jimmie Rodgers with “My Carolina Sunshine Girl†and “Nobody Knows But Me.â€
The Serenaders rhythm section pounces and swings, held down by the steady and dependable standup bass work of veteran bassist Pete Lampe. But the key instrument that some critics say makes the Serenaders’ sound is the Hawaiian Steel Guitar, played with artful finesse by Mr. Henry Bogdan, who adds sweet melodic layers to the crooning songs and a taunting boost to the up-tempo numbers. Or perhaps the secret ingredient is Garner Pruitt’s chomping-at-the-bit trumpet playing interlaced with the melodic and sweet playing of clarinetist David Evans. Nevertheless, it is the sum of these parts that succeeds in creating a totally delightful and effervescent music. Midnight Serenaders
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